Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Friday steered the signing of a tripartite agreement between the city government, the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) to host world school wrestling and badminton championships next year.
"The prestigious sporting events ISF World School Wrestling Championship and the ISF World School Badminton Championship in Delhi -- will feature more than 1,000 athletes from over 50 countries, further strengthening the city's global sporting identity," Minister Sood said.
He added that this agreement will boost the morale of young athletes, enhance their performance, and provide them with exposure to world-class sporting facilities and international competition. It will also strengthen Delhi's sports ecosystem and further establish the national capital as a capable host for future national and international sporting events, he said, adding that preparations for these championships is already underway.
The Minister said that, with this agreement, Delhi has received the opportunity to host the ISF World School Championships for the first time. The event will bring together thousands of student-athletes, coaches, technical officials, and delegates from across the globe.
Minister Sood also said that the championships will give fresh momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Khelo India' and 'Fit India'. He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi government is continuously working to develop world-class sports infrastructure and establish the national capital as a premier destination for international sporting events.
He expressed confidence that the Delhi government will successfully organise this prestigious championship in a grand manner. The Education Minister also highlighted that Delhi will host the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships next and the hosting of the ISF World School Championships in 2027 will further strengthen the city's global sporting identity.
The event will provide Indian school athletes with an invaluable opportunity to compete at the international level, promote a vibrant sporting culture, and mark another significant step towards realising India's vision of becoming a global sporting powerhouse.